Mikel Arteta admits ‘big worry’ as Arsenal injuries continue to stack up
Another setback is the last thing the Gunners needed following the absences of Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri
Mikel Arteta has admitted that Gabriel Jesus’s knee injury is a “big worry” after the striker was carried off the pitch on a stretcher in the first half of Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat against Manchester United.
Jesus clutched his knee and immediately signalled to the bench after appearing to get his studs caught in the turf as he sprinted back towards his own goal to help defend a United counter-attack.
The 27-year-old succeeded in preventing Bruno Fernandes from having a shot – illegally in the United captain’s opinion who was booked for hurling a boot to the floor in frustration – but it seems as though it came at a great personal cost.
Jesus has endured an injury-hit spell in north London since signing from Manchester City in 2022, including a four month lay-off with a knee injury during the 2022-23 campaign.
“It’s a big worry, that’s my feeling,” Arteta said.
“He had to come off on a stretcher, was in a lot of pain touching his knee. It’s not looking good.
“I think it is the other one. The worrying factor is the feeling that he had when he had to come off and the pain that he was in.”
Another injury and another setback is desperately cruel on a player whose Arsenal career has been defined by stop-starts and false dawns.
It is even more unfortunate considering he has only recently rediscovered his confidence in front of goal, scoring six goals in his last seven matches in all competitions, as many as he had managed in his previous 48.
The timing could not be worse with Kai Havertz enduring a calamitous afternoon in front of goal, including a missed penalty in the shootout, and with Arteta already contending with a depleted frontline.
Jesus started on the right wing, in part due to Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri both sidelined with hamstring issues.
Raheem Sterling replaced him and although he has struggled for form since joining on loan from Chelsea could be in line for his first Premier League start since October for Wednesday’s north London derby against Tottenham.
Arteta refused to comment on whether Arsenal will look to add another forward to his squad this month, but the clamour from supporters will undoubtedly grow louder following disappointing results in the last week.